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Heart disease, one of the top killers in Vietnam, is affecting more young people as the industrial, urban lifestyle of unhealthy diets and little physical activity increases risk factors for cardiological problems, doctors say.

Do Doan Loi, director of the National Heart Institute, said at a conference Wednesday that patients with heart conditions are getting younger.

Loi said there have been an increase in the number of patients between 25 and 40 coming to the institute for treatment in recent years. Many patients now suffer strokes by the age of 40.

He blamed the industrial, urban lifestyle where people have inadequate exercise but too much drinking, smoking and constant stress.

Studies show that the ratio of people with high cholesterol and diabetes in urban areas is much higher than elsewhere.

More than 47 percent of people above 25 years old in Vietnam have high blood pressure while more than 44 percent of people between 25 and 74 years old in cities have high cholesterol, which can lead to serious and deadly heart conditions.

Surveys by the World Health Organization showed that heart disease has become a leading cause of death worldwide, more in developing countries.

In Vietnam, a study by the heart institute showed that cardiological conditions are killing 200,000 people every year, a fourth of total deaths in the country.